Vacuum Pump for Stabilizing wood?

M

Mark Terrell

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Does anyone know where to get a decent, but fair priced Vacuum pump for stabilizing wood? I had one that I used forever, but it was given to me and it went kaput.

I've looked around, but I'm not sure which to go with or if the ones I've seen will even work.

Suggestions???



Thanks,


MT
 
A lot of universitys have need for vacuum pumps and as new pumps come on the market the old rotary pumps usually just wind up sitting around. I would try to find a contact at say a phyics, electrical engineering or materials science department, chances are they have something lying around they could give you for cheap.

greg
 
I was wondering the same thing. I must say, you have a very nice shop Mark.
Also, nice looking knives. Nice to see a another fellow Texan around.

I have also heard the refridgerator pump option, but what would you use for a chamber?
 
gregorio said:
A lot of universitys have need for vacuum pumps and as new pumps come on the market the old rotary pumps usually just wind up sitting around. I would try to find a contact at say a phyics, electrical engineering or materials science department, chances are they have something lying around they could give you for cheap.

greg
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This is a good idea!! I used to work for a chemistry lab at my university and there was about 3-4 vacuum pumps per room. They are always getting rid of old ones and getting new ones. If you do get one though make sure to clean out everything really well using a respirator (one that stops chemicals) because you never know what they were using it to suck up!!
 
Along the lines of the university, one can also find that large corporations frequently have "salvage" outlets where they sell used equipment. I worked for a large pharma company that allowed "consumers" to come in and buy. I picked up my vacuum pump and other lab equipment there. They also sold a lot of Dewars and there were a number of vacuum vessels. Prices were quite reasonable, as the equipment had usually been fully depreciated. I also managed to buy a brand new $1100 dewar still in the box for $275 when they shut down a research project.
 
You might also want to check with any HVAC guys you know. They use vaccum pumps to pump out moist air in refrigerant lines. Ones that get age to them and no longer go down to the extreme levels they need go get tossed.
 
Just a little tip/ flushing oil is a much needed task that makes and keeps a pump running properly. I have gotten older pumps for free and simply flushed them out to find an excellent pump after the cleaning.
Good luck gent's.
 
fitzo said:
Along the lines of the university, one can also find that large corporations frequently have "salvage" outlets where they sell used equipment. I worked for a large pharma company that allowed "consumers" to come in and buy. I picked up my vacuum pump and other lab equipment there. They also sold a lot of Dewars and there were a number of vacuum vessels. Prices were quite reasonable, as the equipment had usually been fully depreciated. I also managed to buy a brand new $1100 dewar still in the box for $275 when they shut down a research project.
Click to expand...

Inquisitive question: What do you use the dewars for as far as knifemaking goes? Just couldn't think of any reasons off the top of my head! Maybe cryogenic treatment during the heat treating?
 
raythebigfoot said:
Inquisitive question: What do you use the dewars for as far as knifemaking goes? Just couldn't think of any reasons off the top of my head! Maybe cryogenic treatment during the heat treating?
Click to expand...

Exactly, Ray. It is for liquid nitrogen the conversion of retained austenite to martensite immediately following quenching. High-alloy steels tend to produce more retained austenite even when quenched properly, and this frequently can add 1-2 points of hardness.

While it would be nice to have a computer-controlled gas phase cryo facility, a Dewar and LN is about the best one can do at home.
 
I DO NOT KNOW IF ONE OF THESE WOULD WORK, but Harbor Freight sells vacuum pumps that you use with an air compressor to draw a vacuum. They offer a few different models with variously sized orifices and they are relatively inexpensive. If you already have a compressor, they might be a viable alternative to buying a stand alone vacuum pump.
 
I started with this today. I used the trick of a mason jar and boiling water. I've got a batch sitting is solution and stewing now. :D ~Let y'all know how it comes out. :D

Jim L.
 
I use the HF Air Vacuum pump and it works great. My neat attempt will be to put 2 in series to see if I can get that magical 29-30 perfect vacuum. As it is I have drawn down to 27. I can suck the air out of a piece of wood in a couple of minutes. I used nelsonite from Darren Ellis.. It achieved 100% saturation. I know since I dried the wood out then placed it back in the jar and pulled a vacuum again. No bubbles. The main benefits i see of the HF pump is there are no moving parts or oil to worry about and you can get them for $9 on sale.

Chuck
 
I've been playing around with trying to make vacuum chamber(s) using 2 Ball Jars... Unfortunately, was unavble to find glass top lids. The screw-on lids made it impossible FOR ME to get a set-up where I was free of leaks. Air leaked between the sclass "threads) for the screw-on lid, and the air came out the bottom. Further, I made a neoprene gasket to encircle beow the threads where the bottom flange of the lid might make good contact.. BUT FAILED. Trying to find the old metal clamp glass lid Masons, and then put the "nipple" holes in the jard. Reference the epoxy... Add the epoxy to the assembly and then AROUND the metal nipples, or keep the inner parts clean and dry?
Thanks

flotexmich
 
You can make a decent chamber out of pipe nipples. You can buy caps or use a collar and plug. You can use a air powered pump or even a hand pump. If you use a quality needle or even a ball valve they will hold the vacuum far longer than you will want them to.
 
I have been using a foodsaver machine with the mason jar adapter. I put the hardener and scales in the mason jar put the lid on, and it sucks all of the air out of the jar and seals it. It has worked perfectly, thus far.
 
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